Letter box arrangement

ABSTRACT

Arrangement at a letter- or mailbox ( 1 ), having a bottom portion ( 4 ), an upper portion ( 5 ), a rear side ( 6 ), a front side ( 7 ) as well as in applicable cases gable-ends ( 8 ). The box ( 1 ) is provided with a decorrative motive or text for information purposes, separately or in combination. At least one of the sides ( 4, 5, 6, 7 ) is provided with at least one primary groove ( 19 ) fixed thereto, into which one or more separate sheets for decorative or informative purposes are insertable, while a complementary groove formation ( 14 ) is to be arranged in connection to the remaining edge portion of the sheet ( 13 ), whereby said complementary groove formation ( 14 ) through assembly thereof with the primary groove ( 19 ) form a complete frame of grooves, aimed for the fixation of the sheet ( 13 ), and whereby said complementary groove formation is attachable by insertion of certain items of a part of said complementary groove formation underneath means of fixation along the same side of the box ( 1 ) where the first groove formation ( 19 ) is attached, whereby a discrete groove frame is established.

[0001] The invention referred to is a letter and/or post box consisting of a bottom section, an upper section, a rear section, a front section, in applicable cases end sections, and a lid, the box being furnished with a decorative motif or informative text either separately or in combination.

[0002] Over the last few years it has become increasingly popular, especially among house owners, to put a personal touch to their post boxes. The reasons for this phenomenon are varied, but it is likely that one common reason is that post boxes are thought to have a rather dull appearance. As a result there are many house owners who have bought new post boxes, which have been decorated as new and have thus, at least in an indirect fashion, given both a decorative and personal touch to the property. Mnay of these decorative post boxes have motifs that reflect a seasonal theme for example, or that relate to a message. The motif loses its relevance after a while. As time pases the original personal motif deteriorates as a result of weather and wind and the outcome is a box that is possibly even uglier than a conventional box. Naturally, this process depends on the quality of the motif, and in this context it should be noted that the environmental effects post boxes are subjected to are probably the worst imaginable. To restore the motif or message after such deterioration over a long period of time is often impossible, and replacement of the box is the most reasonable solution to the problem.

[0003] It is therefore one of the purposes of this invention to produce a device of the type referred to above with which the owner can quickly and easily change or replace the motif or message with the purpose of renewing or adapting the post box to the prevailing situation.

[0004] The invention enables the application/attachment of a motif or information on letter/post boxes through at least one of the sides being equipped with at least one folded structure forming a groove in which it is possible to insert a re

tif or information sheet. A second complementing

is made on one of the other sides of the plate, which together with the first fold structure above constitutes a whole folded frame intended for holding in place a motif or information sheet. The complementing fold structure can be attached to the side of the box by inserting parts of the structure under the attachment structure by the side where the first fold structure is fixed, thus producing a discrete folded frame.

[0005] In one proposed version of the invention, the means of attachment is formed by the plastic deformation of partially punched lips in the side of the box where the motif or information sheet is affixed. This is preferable from the technical and economic aspects of production if a simpler version of the letter or post box is to be supplied, since the means of attachment can be easily punched out of the blank for the box before it is folded. Through this procedure the consumption of material is minimized.

[0006] In another likewise proposed version, either one of the first folded structures or the complementing folded structure has a slit along its outer edge to enable the insertion of a motif or information sheet. This simplifies as much as possible the insertion of a new sheet of paper for the reason that no part of the folded frame needs to be removed. This is considered to be a great advantage especially in adverse weather conditions since the change of motif can take place more quickly.

[0007] In a special proposed version of the invention, the first folded structure fixed onto one of the sides of the box is a mathematically discontinuous form and constitutes three of four sides of a rectangular folded frame. The folded frame makes up part of the plate affixed to the side of the box on which three sides are folded to form grooves. This method of attachment has major advantages in the manufacture of more solid and high-quality boxes which could be, from the starting point of a standard box, “tailor-made” to the customer's wishes, i.e. produced with the means of attaching motifs or information sheets in any optional position on the box.

[0008] The invention will be described below in more detail, referring to the attached drawings of the production versions, where

[0009]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first version of a letter or post box with a decoration or information sheet inserted and affixed to the front side of the box.

[0010]FIG. 2 shows a letter and/or post box corresponding to FIG. 1 where the decoration or information sheet is shown separately by the side of the folded structure for attachment, this being on the front side of the box.

[0011]FIG. 3a shows a separate folded structure for attachment, which after mounting is designed to cover the fourth side of the decoration or information sheet.

[0012]FIG. 3b shows a cross-section of the separate folded structure for attachment seen from its end.

[0013]FIG. 4 shows, as in FIG. 2, a perspective view of the device as invented and applied to the door on a so-called weekly post box, and

[0014]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4, in which the device as invented is applied to a letter and/or post box on the front and the door for emptying the box is on the opposite or rear side.

[0015]FIG. 1 illustrates what may at first glance appear to be a conventional letter and/or post box 1. This box is equipped with a door for emptying 2, which can be locked with the lock 1 a. FIG. 1 however shows such a letter and/or post box 1 equipped with a device or arrangement 3, that is intended in an extremely simple fashion to allow the insertion and/or replacement of an information or decoration sheet 13 of chosen type, in this case on the front of the box. The letter/post box 1 consists of a bottom section 4 (not shown), an upper section 5, a rea

(not shown), a front section 7, two side sections 8 a

The box is preferably manufactured using elements of folded sheet steel, preferably galvanized, that are joined to each other by welding. The assembled letter/post box 1 is subsequently painted using appropriate anti-corrosion paint.

[0016] Parallel to the lower edge 10 of the illustrated door 9 in FIG. 1, a sheet 11 is mounted that has three sides with open 1800 folds to make grooves 16 (see FIGS. 3a, 3 b).

[0017] The plate 11 has a hole for a lock cylinder on its upper narrow edge 12, which is used to operate the lock (not shown) on the door 9. Since the dimensions of plate 11 in this illustrated version correspond to a large extent with the dimensions of door 2, it may be difficult to distinguish door 2 which is largely covered by plate 11.

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a letter and/or post box 1 corresponding to that in FIG. 1. The difference lies in the information and/or decoration sheet 13 and a separate folded structure for attachment 14, for the purposes of illustration shown disconnected to the right of the sheet insertion area 17 of plate 11. The information and/or decoration sheet 13 has slightly smaller dimensions than the inner dimensions of plate 11, these being limited by the depth of the grooves formed by folding 16. The form of these grooves 16 is the same as the form of the separate folded structure for attachment 14, which is shown clearly in FIGS. 3a and 3 b. FIG. 3a shows the separate folded structure for attachment 14 from one of its long sides. It is clear that 15 a in the folded structure 14 is longer than 15 b. It can also be seen that part 15 b is mitred at 45°.

[0019]FIG. 4 shows a letter box of the so-called weekly type, by which is meant a letter box whose inner volume is sufficiently large to accommodate the maximum quantity of arriving post that is delivered to a normal household in one week. This figure corresponds with the version shown in FIG. 2 with the exception of its volume and the shape of the upper section 5.

[0020] It may be seen from FIG. 5, which shows an alternative version of the letter and/or post box 1, that the position of device 3 in the invention is optional. Thus it is not determined in advance that device 3 must be attached to or near to a locking door 2 since it may be attached to any flat surface on the exterior of the letter and/or post box, or for that matter any plane-curved surface. Nor shall the application of the invention be limited to its attachment on one side of box 1. The information and/or decoration sheet 13, which is flexible but stiff, UV and weather resistant, and carries an informative message or an aesthetically pleasing decoration, can be easily inserted into the grooves 16 and will be held in place. FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 show how the folds are formed from a flat blank of sheet steel 11, which is then welded onto the front 7 of the letter and/or post box 1, a narrow pocket being formed between the plate 11 and the front section 7. After the information and/or decoration sheet has been inserted, the long part 15 a of the separate folded structure for attachment 14 can be pushed with a close fit under plate 11. Its mitred corners will abut the corresponding mitred corners of the upper and lower open grooves 16 into which the information and/or decoration sheet is inserted. In this way a completely homogeneous frame will be formed around the information and/or decoration sheet which to the untrained eye consists of a single piece. It should be pointed out in this context that the separate folded structure for attachment 14 need not contain one side of the complete frame; it could equally well contain the upper or lower edge of a rectangular frame or the curved side of another optional shape of frame.

[0021] The invention shall not be limited by the above description, only by the wording of the attached patent claim. 

1. A device for a letter and/or post box consisting of a bottom section, an upper section, a rear section, a front section, in applicable cases end sections, this box being furnished with a decorative motif or informative text, either separately or in combination, and wherein at least one of the sides being equipped with at least one fixed folded structure for attachments, into which a separate information and/or decoration sheet may be inserted, upon which a complementing fold structure covers the remaining edge of the sheet and which together with the above folded structure for attachment forms a complete folded frame that is intended to hold in place the information and/or decoration sheet, it being understood that the complementing fold structure is able to be mounted on the side named by inserting the part of the complementing fold structure under the attachment structure (not shown) along the side where the first fold structure is affixed, through which a discrete folded frame is formed.
 2. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the attachment structure, consisting of the plastic deformation of partially punched lips on the side where the information and/or decoration sheet is to be affixed.
 3. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein either the first folded structure or the complementing folded structure at some part of their perifery having a longitudinal slit to allow the insertion of an information and/or decoration sheet.
 4. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first folded structure fixed to a side of the box being mathematically discontinuous in its shape and forming three sides out of four of a rectangular folded frame.
 5. The device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the three fold structures affixed to a side of the box being parts of a fixed plate on the same side, and on which three edges are bent to form grooves.
 6. The device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the plate forming an attachment strucutre for the fourth folded structure.
 7. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the upper section being in one piece with a lid on the box.
 8. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the information and/or decoration sheet being both W and weather resistant. 